Award Recognition
Civic Responsibility
Astrid is being recognized for her commitment to Latin American and Latinx student life on campus. Both as a student assistant and as a major in the department, Astrid has greatly contributed to the expansion of student initiatives in the Institute of Latin American Studies, through the planning of Latinx student-centered events and mentorship opportunities between undergraduate and graduate students. As a co-founder and board member for the Venezuelan Student Association, Astrid has spearheaded initiatives with the student group through cultural events collaborations with other groups and departments, and most recently in the planning of the first-ever Venezuelan conference. As a Laidlaw Scholar and Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow, Astrid’s work centers the experiences of Venezuelan refugees and forced migrants in Latin America and the United States to bring attention to the lived realities in the region. Through her other work in equity and inclusion, including with NYC High School students in Model UN through her leadership in CESIMS, commitment to access to higher education in Matriculate, and community-building with Columbia Catholic Ministry, Astrid has exemplified commitment to civic responsibility by holding deeply the communities and backgrounds she comes from and shares with others, acknowledging and acting on the responsibility she holds to give back.
Thank you to God for this opportunity and for all the blessings in my life. Thank you to my family, especially my mom and brother for all of their love and support my entire life. Thank you to my nominators, friends, professors, co-workers at ILAS, Venezuelan community and all my communities on campus, and everyone who has supported me my entire time at Columbia- I am endlessly grateful for you!